Take a look at the attached photo. There is a gap of about 1/8 inch between the concrete deck and the pool tiles. (Tiles may not be the right word, but you can see what I am talking about. This gap is only on one side of the pool so I think it is caused by shifting concrete, but I want to make sure before I fill it in with some concrete.
Does this gap need to be repaired, or is it there for some purpose?
- Thread starter TomAtlanta
- Start date
Thanks for the link to the info about expansion joints. Very helpful. The thing I don't understand is that on one side of the pool there is the gap which I now know is the expansion joint. On the other side of the pool, the concrete comes right up to the coping with no expansion joint. Maybe that was caused by concrete shifting over the years. The pool was built in 1971.
When water is allowed to get in between the coping and deck then the soil has the chance to expand and move, that will have an influence on possible movement of the deck work.
"There should be an expansion joint all around with caulk in the expansion joint."
I don't see any caulk in my expansion joint. Should I caulk it? If there is caulk in there can it still allow for expansion?
I don't see any caulk in my expansion joint. Should I caulk it? If there is caulk in there can it still allow for expansion?
The gap is a little bit too small and adding caulk will reduce the protection compared to an open crack.
Typically, the crack gets caulked to prevent water getting in.
In some cases, water can cause problems and in some cases it does not make much difference.
How long has it been open?
Are the coping bricks bonded or unbonded?
Typically, the crack gets caulked to prevent water getting in.
In some cases, water can cause problems and in some cases it does not make much difference.
How long has it been open?
Are the coping bricks bonded or unbonded?
"How long has it been open?"
I don't know. At least a few years.
"Are the coping bricks bonded or unbonded?"
I don't know and don't know what bonded means. How can I tell?
I don't know. At least a few years.
"Are the coping bricks bonded or unbonded?"
I don't know and don't know what bonded means. How can I tell?
Tap on the bricks with the plastic handle of a screwdriver to see if the sound is solid or hollow.
Bonded means that the brick is solidly mortared to the bond beam.
Unbonded means that the brick is not solidly secured to the bond bean and it will sound hollow when you lightly tap on the brick with the plastic handle of a screwdriver.
Bonded means that the brick is solidly mortared to the bond beam.
Unbonded means that the brick is not solidly secured to the bond bean and it will sound hollow when you lightly tap on the brick with the plastic handle of a screwdriver.